Wired.com: MadWorld was a widely praised title, but sales were disappointing. Why do you think that is? Do you think that “core” games just don’t sell on the Wii?

Mike Hayes: It’s difficult because it was a critically acclaimed title; it was extreme but good. The thing that we’re saying is, Sega would be extremely arrogant to have a title that didn’t do as well as we thought on a platform and then say, “Those kind of games don’t sell on that platform.” I think if you take our slew of more mature games — House of the Dead Overkill did really well in Europe, and for some reason even though it’s a big (intellectual property) it did less well in North America. So that’s kind of like a win and a miss that’s kind of come out neutral.

MadWorld sales were very disappointing, but was that to do with the platform? Was it that people didn’t like the art style? Or that people didn’t like the way the game played through? It could be many things, which we’re obviously researching.

Wired.com: What about The Conduit?

Hayes: We actually regard The Conduit as a success. We shipped 300,000 units, sold through half of those and now it’s at the point where it’s selling consistently at a time when Wii sales are generally depressed in the marketplace. So what does that tell you? We still kind of don’t know.

What we can say is that we’ll still do mature games for the Wii market because with an install base of some 34 million in Europe and America (maybe half of whom don’t own Xbox 360s and PS3s)…. So even if you took half of those where they’re not into those (core) games, you’ve still got 8 million consumers to go for. So I think the sheer scale of the Wii allows a shooter, or a mature game, to be a niche but a successful niche. And because the development costs can be less on Wii, that means you can sell less to be successful…. We can take more risks on the Wii.

Wired.com: So Sega will continue to have a commitment to making hard-core games on the Wii, despite the sales of MadWorld.

Hayes: Absolutely. You’ll see more games in that genre coming from us.

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Still dunno if I like seperating games into "hardcore" and "casual". To me a game is a game anyway this is pleasing news. Most companies like THQ have abandoned making so called "core" games due to sales so its good that SEGA aren't being put off because of sales, they're actually looking into why a game didn't sell instead of jumping to assumptions.

Madworld 2 with a huge melee online mode please...or just Panzer Dragoon Saga 2, whatever just give us good stuff and lay off the "storytale" Sonic titles.

Well, I think the main reason why The Conduit sold so much better is because it got a T rating as opposed to an M rating. Games with a T rating tend to sell better, especially on the Wii, considering its generally targeted demographic.

I think it is great, that they at least publish good games on Wii... But developing is an other thing. Sadly nearly all the good and creative people left SEGA at some point

AM2 and Team Andromeda

300.000 unites of The Conduit=absolute success!!!

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It's nice (Sarcasm) to see Sega as a publisher and developer doesn't care about making money anymore.

Someone answer me why they always seem to support the system that isn't the obvious choice and better fit for their games.

They killed the DC to support the Xbox, which was being killed by the PS2 then still supported due to misguided loyalty (and big bags 'O $$$) from Microsoft.

Then they release a small smattering of stuff for PS2 and GC, that sold better than their Xbox fair.

Then we move onto this gen and they decided not to support MS or Sony that much, but instead to support the Wii, a system (mostly) for casual players (case in point all the Wii fitness titles, and party type games that sell extremely well on the system) or non-gamers as I like to call'em.

So they end of wasting Grasshopper, Platinum and High Voltage's time and talents developing for a platform that won't return as much financially as they would want it to because of all the mature gamers (I won't call them hardcore or core, as I don't use fad labels just because they are in vogue) own either a 360 or PS3.

Its just a wonder all of these companies don't wake up and understand this for themselves that if you are going to develop content for older audiences, then why not make the bloody game for the systems that a majority of that demographic own to begin with.

Makes me wonder why they cannot understand this themselves???

It seems like almost all high quality 3rd party titles that aren't some fad game or another get totally ignored by the Wii masses. No More Heroes...tanked. Madworld...tanked. Klonoa...tanked. Zack and Wiki...tanked. The Conduit...sold decent, but not to expectations even with hype.

Those are just a few examples, even bigger name games like the RE ports, Okami, and others that even given a second chance with a bigger audience didn't do awesomely (I don't know the sales figures for the RE games on the Wii) but failed to even show that most regular (Not game enthusiasts) have a clue about quality games and then don't support them on the world's top selling game system at the moment.

And that is what really confuses me, do these people have no taste, or are they really that clueless to begin with.

Wonder if this has anything to do with that new Sega RPG website that appeared. It'd be awesome if it were Phantasy Star for the Wii.

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Yeah since PSZ was a big hit on the DS, a Wii version would sell like hotcakes and be just as good if even better. A Wii PS is the best move on Sega's part and they need to make sure it has Wi-Fi like Zero.

Wonder if this has anything to do with that new Sega RPG website that appeared. It'd be awesome if it were Phantasy Star for the Wii.

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Yeah since PSZ was a big hit on the DS, a Wii version would sell like hotcakes and be just as good if even better. A Wii PS is the best move on Sega's part and they need to make sure it has Wi-Fi like Zero.

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Yeah, that's what I thought to. Except without the friend codes. It will help Sega a lot on there part cause even over here, Phantasy Star is popular (I believe it's more so then Monster Hunter.) And that teaser site is pointing towards a Phantasy Star game but its most likely going to be PSP2 but who knows what will happen, its Sega.

My sentiments exactly. But it really seems like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole bringing "core" (translation: mature) games to Wii. Some might get it to fit, but for the most part, Wii isn't the platform for it -- not if you're looking to sell well, anyway.

Either way, they should change the terms from "core" and "casual" to something a little more accurate. Perhaps "horny guys with no lives" and "people with jobs." Not sure how well that would go over from a PR standpoint, but it would be closer to the mark for sure.

From with I know about SEGA's motives, I finally glad that CEO left SEGA; the one that admires the I phone instead of the corporation itself. So far SEGA's new quota is staying true however, I want to see them develop a game on their own.

My sentiments exactly. But it really seems like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole bringing "core" (translation: mature) games to Wii. Some might get it to fit, but for the most part, Wii isn't the platform for it -- not if you're looking to sell well, anyway.

Either way, they should change the terms from "core" and "casual" to something a little more accurate. Perhaps "horny guys with no lives" and "people with jobs." Not sure how well that would go over from a PR standpoint, but it would be closer to the mark for sure.

My sentiments exactly. But it really seems like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole bringing "core" (translation: mature) games to Wii. Some might get it to fit, but for the most part, Wii isn't the platform for it -- not if you're looking to sell well, anyway.

Either way, they should change the terms from "core" and "casual" to something a little more accurate. Perhaps "horny guys with no lives" and "people with jobs." Not sure how well that would go over from a PR standpoint, but it would be closer to the mark for sure.

So they end of wasting Grasshopper, Platinum and High Voltage's time and talents developing for a platform that won't return as much financially as they would want it to because of all the mature gamers (I won't call them hardcore or core, as I don't use fad labels just because they are in vogue) own either a 360 or PS3.
Not really as those developers games were only intended for the Wii in the first place, in HVS case the game existed way before they even got a publisher deal. At one point it seemed that they couldn't get a publisher for it at all. Also Grasshopper haven't done anything for Sega.

Come on though, Madworld wouldn't have done that much better on the PS3/360, when Platinum where Clover studios games like Okami were highly rated but sold badly on a console like the PS2. Its a highly violent niche game, those hardly sell well.

Sega is up to the challenge, rather than give up easily like most publishers.

Quoted from Da-Bomb1:

Well, I think the main reason why The Conduit sold so much better is because it got a T rating as opposed to an M rating. Games with a T rating tend to sell better, especially on the Wii, considering its generally targeted demographic.

Another quote from Sega:
QUOTE

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"You will see more — I wouldn't say Mature as in M — but you will see more definitely more hardcore games from us on the Wii platform."

Madworld is just like * no more heros * but with less to do, that's why its sale are crappy they all the beat em up fans went out and got the original, and not the monochrome rehash.

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MadWorld and No More Heroes are completely different in so many aspects. MadWorld is hack and slash and beamup, while No More Heroes is hack and slash as well as open world. Also, you may want to consider using periods to make you sound less stupid, although then you wouldn't be showing your true colors.

Don't give me a new sonic, with his new powers, and his new friends. I will commit suicide.

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dude I completely agree. sonic used to be the shit but all the new ones just suck. I think they need to do what capcom did like when they made megaman 9 if they make a new sonic game. Make old classic looking, plain and simple.